In the world of HVAC, spring cleaning means more than just cleaning out the junk drawers and going through the closets. One of the first things we think of when spring comes along is routine air conditioner maintenance and everything that goes along with that, including cleaning the outside AC unit. While cleaning and caring for the mechanics of the HVAC system is best left to certified technicians, there are a lot of things homeowners can do in preparation. We are happy to give you pointers about anything from how to best clean your outside ac unit to changing your air filter.
If you would like more information on how to best clean your outside AC unit, or need to schedule spring AC maintenance, give Galmiche & Sons a call today! Our professional service technicians have been providing heating & air conditioning solutions to St. Louis since 1950, and we look forward to helping you!
Quick Tips on How to Clean Your Outside AC Unit
It is essential that homeowners take care to clean their outside air conditioning units. Often a forgotten part of the HVAC system, the outdoor AC unit needs attention in order to help the rest of the unit run efficiently. Below we offer some helpful tips on how to clean the outside ac unit.
What you will need in preparation:
- Gloves, eye protection, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Air conditioner coil cleaner (We suggest that you follow your air conditioner manufacturer’s recommendations in terms of which cleaning agent to use)
- Water hose with sprayer nozzle
- Vacuum cleaner with a soft-brush attachment
Steps to clean your outside air conditioning unit:
- Turn the thermostat to “off”
- Switch the power off to the outdoor unit – find the electrical disconnect near the unit. This tends to be on an exterior wall. Open the disconnect and turn the power to the air conditioning unit off.
- Start by removing any large pieces of debris. We suggest wearing your work gloves.
- Next, vacuum the condenser fins with the soft-brush attachment. Do this with great care and make sure not to bend any fins.
- Use the water hose to spray and clean off loose debris such as grass clippings and leaves.
- Follow this up by spraying the outside unit with the coil cleaner — The cleaning solution will foam up about 15 minutes and bond with the dirt on the coils.
- Rinse the coil cleaner off with the spray hose.
These are the best steps to take for how to clean your outside ac unit and ensure its energy efficiency! We recommend following these steps at least annually, and before summer hits.
Learn More About Cleaning Your Outside AC Unit
If you have any concerns when it comes to how to clean your outside AC unit, or have any other heating & air conditioning questions, Galmiche & Sons is happy to help! Give us a call or connect with us online, whichever you prefer!
